RANDY KROTZ NAMED U.S. FARMERS AND RANCHERS ALLIANCE'S FIRST CEOMar. 18, 2014Source: U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance news release

The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance® (USFRA®) announced that its board of directors has appointed Randy Krotz as chief executive officer, effective immediately. A recognized leader in the agribusiness community and active on his family farm in Kansas, Krotz joined USFRA as vice president of development in 2013 and most recently served as executive director.

"U.S. agriculture is at an important crossroads, and with Randy's decades of experience and relationships across the agricultural industry, he is the right person to cement USFRA's role as the unifying voice of farmers and ranchers to consumer audiences," Bob Stallman, chairman of USFRA and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said. "Randy's deep background in food, farming and agribusiness will play a key role in further establishing USFRA as a thought leader on food issues and a guidepost for the next generation of farmers and ranchers."

In 2013, the USFRA board set to create a long-term vision for the movement including structuring the alliance for new leadership. After a national search, USFRA board of directors decided to hire the organization's first chief executive officer in its three-year history from within its own ranks.

Since joining the organization, Krotz has helped build the national prominence of USFRA, with specific focus on consumer facing initiatives such as its signature series The Food Dialogues® that provides a forum for open conversation around some of the most important food issues today. He has overseen day-to-day management and performance of USFRA focusing on organizational and staff management, as well as outreach to the agricultural industry.

Krotz brings vast experience from the food and agricultural industries, including seed and biotechnology, digital marketing and agriculture innovation to his new role as chief executive. His forward-thinking approach and lifelong commitment to farming and ranching will define the organization as it strives to increase consumer confidence in modern agriculture.

Krotz has nearly 25 years of experience in agribusiness leadership, public relations, product management, branding, online marketing, advocacy management and communications. He has previously worked for and has represented many well-known food and agribusiness companies and associations across the industry.

Krotz is a graduate of Kansas State University, and continues his role in the diversified family farm in North Central Kansas, on which he was raised.